BOOKS Writing the Unwritten With Burning Down the House (1997), a collection of essays on writing, Charles Baxter became a fixture, by proxy, in fiction workshops everywhere. In his new book, The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot (Graywolf Press), Baxter goes on to explore the unwritten aspects of writing. He sets out to prove that, … Read more
This photo was passed along to me without any idea who the photographer was. If anyone knows, I’ll happily credit them for what I think captures an iconic moment in Minnesota government, namely Gov. Pawlenty and his, uh, anti-government, “No New Taxes,” transportation advisers, (note Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau beaming at left), vetoing last year’s … Read more
I was knee-deep in the September issue, folks, when this intriguing press photo came across my desk. Oh, dear, how I love to eliminate pantylines. (I like to think there isn’t yet a cellulite problem back there.) But let this be known to the marketers of these products: No pantylines equals unwanted attention for adult, … Read more
The Twins have scored ten runs in their last six games, and 34 in their last fourteen, dating back to July 23 in Toronto –I’ll do the math for you: that’s an average of 2.4 runs a game. This nonsense, this incomprehensible futility, after scoring 34 runs in two games versus Chicago on July 6. … Read more
First, a word of apology for a glitched-out post that hung out here for a while last night and this morning. There are reasons why I’ve never been asked to program the space shuttle. The collapse of the I-35W bridge last week pushed a lot of beat coverage off the table for a while. In … Read more
The new sign hasn’t gone up yet outside the little cafe at 15th and E. Hennepin, but the former East River Market has been renamed the Chindian Cafe. The grocery shelves are gone, and the seating has expanded, from 12 seats to 20+. Chef-owner Nina Wong, who is ethnically Chinese, but born in Vietnam and … Read more
ARCHEOLOGY Dig It Minneapolis is certainly no Pompeii — for that you’ll have to go to the latest Science Museum exhibit, A Day in Pompeii — but we still have our hidden treasures. And I’m not talking about all the little theaters and arts venues that we’re always busy trying to bring to your attention. … Read more
So it’s clear these are tough times, financially speaking. What with a recession looming, the Fed staying a grim course with interest rates, gas prices hovering in the $3 a gallon range, and housing values all over the country tanking like so many penny stocks — the future for middle-American homeowners is looking mighty cloudy. … Read more
So I was in the process of putting together a must do list for you. I was telling you the cars you want and the cars you don’t want for a reasonable price.* Then something happened. I was, like, just told that the car chase in the new Bourne movie outdoes the old one. I … Read more
Thanks to the Science Museum of Minnesota, and to Connie Rodriguez, for this fabulous tour of of A Day in Pompeii. Be sure to visit the exhibit before January 6th, 2008.